Amatuer Ice Hockey

[cotney]

Does anyone on PH play recreational ice hockey?

I'm looking to get in to it, I've started skating lessons and buying some skates, but just after some tips about how accessible other people find it, and what they did about buying equipment etc?

[red22]

Not sure what neck of the country you are in but plenty of rinks run learn hockey courses as part of their rec hockey program or stick and puck nights where they'll supply some kit so you can get a feel for it. Best bet is to join thehockeyforum.co.uk and ask the same question there, you'll find plenty of people to help you into the sport.

[red22]

Forgot to mention you'll also need a love of late nights as training normally starts after everyone else hss finished with the ice. So 11pm starts aren't unusual.

[48Valves]

I've not played for 15 years now but most rinks that had league teams seemed to have rec teams too.

Like has been mentioned before, be prepared for late nights and lots of travelling. It's not like football where there are pictures everywhere.

Look out for second hand kit too. There is always someone selling good quality kit at a fraction of the cost of new stuff.

I would love to play again but sadly don't have the time or live close enough to a rink to make it feasible. It's the best sport in the world by a mile. It is generally a very welcoming community, especially in the rec leagues.

Learn to skate with sharp blades. They will enable you to stop and turn much faster and give you more control. Can be tricky at first though.

Edited to add.

Get some roller blades, a cheap stick and a roller hockey ball and get outside and start practicing.

Edited by 48Valves on Sunday 14th February 15:56

[Pete102]

I've played for nearly 20 years now (feel old saying that), started when I was 11/12. Played to a reasonable level in my youth (England trials) and a very short stint at the Elite League level. I now play at rec level and have done for 5 years or so.

As others have mentioned already, most of the rec teams in the UK are very approachable and will even look at sourcing you some kit to borrow if you want to try before you buy.

Where abouts in the UK are you based? With regards to buying kit I would recommend spending a little extra on a helmet, mid-level skates and shorts. Don't be sucked into the flashiest stick as you wont be able to use its full potential anyway.

Other than that, have fun, enjoy it and work on your skating. This will increase your enjoyment for the game ten fold once you can move around properly.

[Flying Toilet]

I'm looking to do the same after years of roller hockey and watching ice hockey.

What team did you play for Pete?

[Pete102]

I play for Kingston Cobras out of Hull, from your profile I think you're a little way away

[Flying Toilet]

I presume you were on the Stringrays roster then?

[Pete102]

Pre season training camp and 2 pre-season games against Coventry Blaze a few years back, very brief. It wasnt particularly viable holding down a full time job at the sime time either .

Spent the majority of my time flitting between NIHL and Rec.

Is MK your closest team?

[Flying Toilet]

Sounds an experience either way, few friends have done similar with Coventry and to take it back to the old days MK Kings.

Yep MK Lightning is my local team and go most weeks, speaking to Nick Poole a few weeks ago is what inspired me to get on the ice for some Rec.

Going to brush up on my skating over the off season and then been offered a spot on a rec team if I want to pursue it.

[Pete102]

You should 100% go for it.

We don't play many southern teams unfortunately apart from a tournament in Bracknell every year (although it was cancelled last year).

[m444ttb]

I started off playing a little inline hockey before moving on to rec ice hockey with my work's team (Nationwide Knights). Aside from the late nights killing me the next day as I couldn't sleep for hours after I really struggled to get into it. However our club had a very wide range of ability. Some of the squad had been skating since they could walk. So the pace of the game was difficult to get hold of. I found inline hockey a lower standard and combined with a smaller playing area easier to get into. I was still st though.